Clawson Schools settles teacher contracts

Clawson teachers will begin the new school year with a little less money in their wallets.

Clawson Public Schools recently announced that the district has come to a contract settlement with the Clawson Education Association. Contract negotiations spanned a full year as the school district faced the challenges of attempting to retain teachers, while dealing with state revenue cuts and a rapidly declining student population.

“As good stewards of the school district’s resources, it is imperative that the administration continues to act responsibly,” Clawson Schools Superintendent Monique Beels said. “We are spending less revenue for the first time in about five years as a result of necessary expenditure reductions. However, we still contend with the reality of a significant loss in our student population, as well as crippling reductions in state funding over the same time period. While we are disappointed in the state for falling short on its obligation to support our school district, we cannot have a budget that exceeds revenue.”

As a result, Clawson teachers will join administrators, supervisors and managers in receiving a reduction in salary and also pay additional money toward their health care costs.

Salaries will be reduced by 3 percent, beginning Sept. 1, 2014, and steps and lane changes are frozen at current levels.

Administrators and employee contractors also contribute. They have been paying 100 percent of deductible since July 1, 2013.

“This agreement will result in our maintaining a healthy community – not one that mortgages the school district and jeopardizes the future of our students,” Beels said. “It also enables us to continue providing students with the support they require to achieve academic excellence.”

According to a report from the Oakland Intermediate School District, only two school districts out of the 28 in Oakland County gained students in 2013; all others lost student population, which in turn, reduced the amount of per-pupil revenue provided to school districts by the state of Michigan.

The Clawson School District serves 1,750 students from the City of Clawson and surrounding communities.